Bob Harper's Inside Out Method Day One

I've never won anything in my life through a form of lottery...big or small. Until a few weeks ago.

I follow Bob Harper on Twitter. He is one of the two personal trainers on NBC's The Biggest Loser. Bob has a reputation of being the "nicer" of the two trainers, and while he may be more kind hearted, he certainly does not let up in the gym, or so I have learned.

A few weeks ago Bob announced a contest on twitter, and I entered. The two winners won his entire at home fitness dvds, as well as all the resistance bands needed to complete the training. Of all the entries, I was one of the winners. I could NOT believe it. I have been a fan of his for a while, love that he embraces a vegan lifestyle (though I am not vegan), and always thought, "If I could just have him as a trainer, then I could do it. I really could get in the best shape of my life."

Today was day one of his 4 week fitness plan. 60 minutes of strength training. There is the option of a 25 minute routine instead, but I've been moderately active for the past 12 months and figured I could handle it. Let me be straight, here. It was the hardest 60 minutes of working out that I have ever endured. I only used 5 pound weights, and found myself wishing a few times that I owned 3 pound weights, because it was too much for me.

To clarify, this workout is titled as a strength training dvd, but it's NOT a muscle building tool. If anything, you might gain some lean muscle mass, but bulk muscle is not gained from the kind of repetitions Bob has you doing. And I'm good with that.

My plan is to complete his four week training program, take a week for yoga and running only, and then jump into P90X again on January 1st. I plan to detail everything here, along with pictures (at the end, of course).

Along with getting fit physically, I decided that it's time to get emotionally and spiritually fit as well. I finished reading a wonderful parenting book that has help me snap out of the trance I was in...a trance of laziness and selfishness, letting my kids sit in front of the tv for far too long every day. Now in the mornings we are waking up, having breakfast, reading a Bible story and working on scripture memorization, and taking major time away from the tv. Jordan is thisclose to reading, and I get so excited for her when she makes the smallest amount of progress.

So off we go. Day one of the Inside Out Method down, 27 to go!